The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1887-12-17


by some artificial means, the present supply hav-
ing become impure and dangerous to the health
of the people. They have been casting about for
the best plan, but all of those suggested were in
some manner Questionable. Finally Brother
Street, of the Democrat, having heard of the use
being made of the "pump snake" in the far West,
to overcome difficulties of this kind, threw out the
idea that it would be o good thing to try this
new plan and accordingly wrote to friend in
Dakota for some information on the subject. The
answer was go satisfactory that it is likely Brother
STREET. will engage in raising this wonderful snake
to supply the demand that he thinks will arise
for them.
A description of these "pump snakes" may not
prove uninteresting. full grown one measures
about sixteen feet in length and about three inches
in diameter. They are of gregarious habits, roam.
ing in large herds, as many as 300 having been
counted in a single flock. In dssecting one Of
these reptiles there is found tube which extends
from the roof of the jaw to the extremity of the
tail, and terminating in an opening. This tube
is about two inches in diameter, and lined with a
tough, yielding substance similar to rubber. The
pump snake is easily trained to answer the call of
man. At the blast of whistle the snakes as
semble on the banks of the creek or at spring.
The leader (there is always leader to herd of
these snakes who is elected by twothirds majority
dashes into the water of the creek, leaving only
the extremity of its tall on the bank. Another
snake Immediately grasps the end of the leaders
tail in its jaws, third snake takes hold of the
second snakes tail in similar manner, and so
on until there is continuous line of snakes Joined
end on, extending to any given point. The lead
ing snake commences to swallow or pump the
water which passes through the long line of snakes
as it would through hose and falls in heavy
stream into the reservoir.
Brother Streets Dakota friend, who furnished
this information, said that short time before q
r =
field near his house, observed flames issuing from
the roof of his barn. Wild with excitement he
hurried to the burning building, only to see that
it was hopeless task for himself alone to attempt
to extinguish the flames. In despair he gazed on
the work of destruction suddenly he heard q
loud rustling in the tall grass, whence issued his
herd of pump snakes on the run. The leader
hurled himself into the creek, the rest instantly
adjusting themselves, heads and tails, from the
creek to the burning building. The last snake,
standing on its head, waved its long and flexible
body, from the tail end of which issued stream
of water that was thrown with terrific force the
burning building. Back and forth dashed the
tail end of that living hose, squirting the water
where it would do the most good. Within fifteen
minutes the last spark was out. Then, and not
until then, did the pump snakes quit work.
A Belt Improvement Association Resi-
dents of the northern part of the Belt have formed
the Huntingdon Local Improvement Association
They state in circular that that portion of the
Belt, although favored by nature with advantages
that would render under drainage of comparative
ly easy accomplishment, has had little or nothing
done for it in that direction, and that "hs neglect
is in some measure due to the apathy Of our peo-
pie, but more largely to the defective system of
government under which we live" and in that
rapidly growing section such an association is
formed to insure some recognition from the county
authorities. They claim among the necessary i'm
provements high service reservoir to insure o
good supply of water the grading, paving and
proper lighting of the streets, including the York
road the abolition of the turnpike system in that
section, &c-Sun.
Sale of a Farm and Mill.-George w. Hook,
auctioneer, sold at the Court House on Tuesday,
for Messrs. John l. Yellott and Chas. W. Brown,
trustees in the equity proceedings of Sarah E. Ell
licott, Administrative, &C., against Charles J.
Parker and wife, the property known as Wrights
mill, in the I'd district half mile from Alberton, to
Mrs. Sarah e. Eicott, for 50, 500. The farm con-
kAs~ L. l. l. 49, ArnA